Communications Students Produce a Segment with WRDE News

Members of the Livestream Team of Delaware Technical Community College's communications program worked with the staff at WRDE to produce a half-hour segment featuring a history of the channel, interviews with the anchors, and helpful hints to get started in the industry.

With the cooperation of WRDE anchor Madeleine Overturf, the group visited the studios in Milton and shot footage within, as well as sit-down interviews with Overturf, co-anchor Charlie Soukitis, and meteorologist Jeanette Guillardo.

Throughout the semester, the students worked on crafting a script, creating graphics, and learning filming techniques to craft and create the half-hour segment on the news station.

"The Livestream Team was created to give students further exposure to all the elements of creating a broadcast, from the script writing to the graphic design to the filming, editing, and directing," Communications Department Chair and Livestream Team Advisor Rob Rector said. "It's for all skill levels and even for those outside the communications program to learn all the various components involved in creating a live broadcast."

"It was informative, fun, and it was a great way to connect with fellow students and future colleagues," communications student Nathan Carney said. Carney served as host for the program and interviewed the WRDE personalities as well as contributed to the scriptwriting process.

Students in the club began meeting regularly in February to start organizing the broadcast and frequently collaborated with one another in preparation for the live recording. "We rehearsed, rehearsed and rehearsed," Rector said. "And they learned to always have a 'Plan B' as live shoots seldom go as planned."

The group took several trips to the Thomas H. Draper Media Center in Milton where the WRDE Studios are based. While there, they were tutored by Overturf on the life of a broadcast journalist and the various strengths necessary to succeed in the industry.

"Producing a livestream takes a lot of planning and involves many hours of production and editing," instructor Jessica Farley said. "The students were introduced to each step of the production process and participated in a real-world setting that ties directly to our program's objectives. Livestreams give students the opportunity to build their portfolios and confidence."

"We are very fortunate to have such a healthy partnership with the team at Draper Media, as they were more than helpful," Rector said. "They all were so welcoming and supportive of the students and really helped build confidence."

A recording of the program can be found here. For more information on the Livestream Team or the communications program, email rrector@dtcc.edu or visit dtcc.edu/programs.

PHOTOS:
Top: Communications students Amina Hunter, Nathan Carney and Breanna Nelson record live in front of the WRDE Studios in Milton.
Bottom: WRDE News Anchor Madeleine Overturf sits with communications student Nathan Carney for an interview.